Matt Parello – Director

Matt started dancing at the age of six and never stopped. He went on to attend Dean College and Long Island University (LIU) as a dance major. Matt studied at the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers in Worcester from 1996-2003. There he studied ballet under the direction of Clyde Nantais, who is also Executive Director of Boston Dance Company (BDC). Matt joined BDC in 1999. As a Company member of BDC, he performed in their annual production of “The Nutcracker” as the Nutcracker and other roles. In 2003 Matt won the title National Mister Headliner. Soon after, he moved to New York to attend L.I.U. While in NY he studied with Alvin Ailey and New York City Ballet. After returning from NY, he continued to perform with BDC, and started his own company, DCW.  Matt was a dancer/entertainer at Six Flags New England. He performed the title role of the Beast in The Commonwealth Ballet Company’s “Beauty and the Beast”.  Matt has also performed in regional theater groups in such roles as Ren McCormack in “Footloose”, Mike in “Chorus Line”, The Emcee in “Cabaret”, and Cosmo Brown in “Singin’ in the Rain”. He has choreographed shows such as “Anything Goes” and “Singin’ in the Rain”, “Grease” and “Footloose“.  Matt has taken classes by such teachers as Shane Sparks, Bob Rizzo, Thom Cobb, Joe Lanteri, Mia Michaels, Gus Giordano, Brian Friedman, and Geo Hubela. He went on tour with Pulse and Performed with Brian Friedman in New York City. Matt is a sought-after instructor of Master Classes and Competition adjudicator. He was recently on staff as a Judge and Master Class Instructor for the touring dance competition “Step Up 2 Dance Tour”. Matt has performed as the Nutcracker and Cavalier in Dance Companies throughout the U.S. This past season he served as Artistic Director of the Melrose Youth Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. He is currently the resident choreographer of the Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Center in Woonsocket R.I. Matt teaches Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop at various dance schools in the area along with his own studio “Downtown Dance Center”.  This past year, Matt was the resident choreographer for the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket R.I. for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, “West Side Story”  and “Beauty and the Beast”. He was also on tour with the “Headliners Dance Competion” as Emcee and Judge.